Ta 
Characters peculiar to the cuttings of the Stalks und Roots of 
_ the Star-reed when in good condition, 
Kenngtins he the Sudinnss in order to preserve the roots and 
the lower and useful part of the stalks of the Star-reed, are ac- 
‘customed to cut them in pieces of various sizes without attend- 
ing to any fixed standard, the length of the cuttings, varying 
from nine to eighteen inches, is no certain character: neither is 
the ecrookedness of | wigan: oh ane since others : are more or _ 
— ta DEL 19h fOr aosed OER gy Pres 5 
Thickness—As Sete are vGlks and roots from: one & sieht 
inches in circumference, the. anaoens is no exact criterion of 
distmetion/ Siil> Feapetiarsies 913 
Surface—When the sali sua roots. are wall nodded ‘ili 
surface is more or less smooth, and free from the scurf or fissures 
with which the stalk is covered» when it has not attained its. due 
maturity, and from the furrows and wrinkles that are formed 
after drying, when they have been untimely gathered. The 
bark within is full of wrinkles impressed on it by. the layers of 
_ the ligneous heart. When the stalks are very old, they are covered 
with wrinkles and a shrivelled substance pabnabem pen : 
Outside, or exterior colour—Ash grey earthy, iommen 
throughout its length. — pase Pea a iy cage cues 
~ Anterior colour—On the two ends or ses tonabist: bende yuides asliee 
barked more’ ‘or less of-a whitish-ash ‘colour, and the heart of 
a pale straw colour ; though the interior of the bark, through- 
out its length, is greyish brown inclining to purple, and the heart 
or ligneous part between livid and dark grey. — 
Consistence—very compact and solid in the bark, ‘and spony 
